Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much. other portion of our uh program manager. other portion of our uh program manager
• </c> treatment program? treatment program?
• </c> about uh half of those in our program about uh half of those in our program and<00:09:17.760><c>
• So our program is set up the same way as drug court, if you're familiar with drug court programs.
• </c> their psychiatry residency programs. their psychiatry residency programs.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the May 12 minutes, then deferred item 285 on the routine personal service contract green list for Western Kentucky University to the July 2026 meeting. It also noted that several deferred university contracts had been withdrawn by the institutions, and then approved the remaining agenda items without objection, including personal service contracts, amendments, memoranda of agreement, Kentucky Entertainment incentive agreements, deferred items, and corrections, except for items pulled for further review. The main pulled item was a Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts contract supporting Fayette District Court’s juvenile treatment court through Fayette County Public Schools. Court officials explained that the program, created under Supreme Court rules in 2022, serves court-connected juveniles with mental health and related needs, operates at the courthouse, and uses a school-employed program manager funded through a pass-through arrangement with Fayette County Public Schools and the Urban County Government. They said the program has had over 100 referrals, accepted about half, and had at least 25 successful graduates, with 11 high school graduates among participants. Members asked about who pays for drug screens, family involvement, and what counts as successful completion; the officials said the Urban County Government’s Division of Youth Services pays for drug screens and services, and that parents must participate in classes and support services. The committee then approved the contract review, with some members explaining their votes in support and one member emphasizing the committee’s role in reviewing contracts in the public interest. The committee also reviewed two Auditor of Public Accounts contracts. The auditor’s representative said contract 11, with Vantage Point Solutions, will examine the Kentucky Communications Network Authority/Kentucky Wired network for $700,000, well below the $1.5 million appropriated, and that a report is expected before the 2027 regular session. Contract 12 funds a special examination of investment managers used by Kentucky’s retirement systems, prompted by a Legislative Oversight and Investigations request to assess whether investments tied to ESG factors are consistent with fiduciary duties; the representative said the retirement systems have been cooperative and that findings are expected on a similar timeline, with some flexibility built into the deadline. After questions about the Texas litigation referenced in the explanation, the committee approved both auditor contracts without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• good program or a bad program, Regardless of where we stand on whether we think NICA is a good program
• or a bad program.
• But if they are not paying into the program, they should not get the benefits of the program.
• They did that in 1988 with this program. They did it with the vaccine program.
• They did that in 1988 with this program. They did it with the vaccine program.

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Bills: SJR18 , SCR9 , SCR13 , SB10 , SB14 , SB19 , SB263 , SB412 , SB441 , SB523 , SB569 , SB687 , SB688 , SB707 , SB766 , SB914 , SB971 , SB1006 , SB1066 , SJR36 , SJR18 , SCR9 , SCR13 , SCR25 , SB565 , SB372 , SB495 , SB842 , SB971 , SB1066 , SB765 , SB523 , SB62 , SB19 , SB18 , SB666 , SB688 , SB707 , SB888 , SB687 , SB706 , SB847 , SB290 , SB766 , SB11 , SB10 , SB13 , SB263 , SB412 , SB441 , SB569 , SB914 , SB1248 , SB740 , SB14 , SB1006 , SB504 , SB917 , SB925 , SB388 , SB1902 , SB1121 , SB995 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB35 , SB6 , SB815 , SB3 , SB1281 , SB1379 , SB1300 , SB1497 , SB1499 , SB1498 , SB1451 , SB263 , SB523 , SB569 , SB688 , SB766 , SB914 , SB971 , SB1066 , SR215 , SR245 , SR247 , SR258 , SCR9 , SJR56 , SJR63 , SJR64 , SJR69 , SJR70 , SJR71 , SCR30 , SCR31 , SCR32 , SCR33 , SB1701 , SB1702 , SB1703 , SB1704 , SB1705 , SB1706 , SB1707 , SB1708 , SB1709 , SB1710 , SB1711 , SB1712 , SB1713 , SB1714 , SB1715 , SB1716 , SB1717 , SB1718 , SB1719 , SB1720 , SB1721 , SB1722 , SB1723 , SB1724 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB1727 , SB1728 , SB1729 , SB1730 , SB1731 , SB1732 , SB1733 , SB1734 , SB1735 , SB1736 , SB1737 , SB1738 , SB1739 , SB1740 , SB1741 , SB1742 , SB1743 , SB1744 , SB1745 , SB1746 , SB1747 , SB1748 , SB1749 , SB1750 , SB1751 , SB1752 , SB1753 , SB1754 , SB1755 , SB1756 , SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1759 , SB1760 , SB1761 , SB1762 , SB1763 , SB1764 , SB1765 , SB1766 , SB1767 , SB1768 , SB1769 , SB1770 , SB1771 , SB1772 , SB1773 , SB1774 , SB1775 , SB1776 , SB1777 , SB1778 , SB1779 , SB1781 , SB1782 , SB1783 , SB1784 , SB1785 , SB1786 , SB1787 , SB1788 , SB1789 , SB1790 , SB1791 , SB1792 , SB1793 , SB1794 , SB1795 , SB1796 , SB1797 , SB1798 , SB1799 , SB1800 , SB1801 , SB1802 , SB1803 , SB1804 , SB1805 , SB1806 , SB1807 , SB1808 , SB1809 , SB1810 , SB1811 , SB1812 , SB1813 , SB1814 , SB1815 , SB1816 , SB1817 , SB1818 , SB1819 , SB1820 , SB1821 , SB1822 , SB1823 , SB1824 , SB1825 , SB1826 , SB1827 , SB1828 , SB1829 , SB1830 , SB1831 , SB1832 , SB1833 , SB1834 , SB1835 , SB1836 , SB1837 , SB1838 , SB1839 , SB1840 , SB1841 , SB1842 , SB1843 , SB1844 , SB1845 , SB1846 , SB1847 , SB1848 , SB1849 , SB1850 , SB2188 , SB2230 , SB2312 , SB2345 , SJR56 , SJR63 , SJR64 , SJR69 , SJR70 , SJR71 , SCR30 , SCR31 , SCR32 , SCR33 , SB1701 , SB1702 , SB1703 , SB1704 , SB1705 , SB1706 , SB1707 , SB1708 , SB1709 , SB1710 , SB1711 , SB1712 , SB1713 , SB1714 , SB1715 , SB1716 , SB1717 , SB1718 , SB1719 , SB1720 , SB1721 , SB1722 , SB1723 , SB1724 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB1727 , SB1728 , SB1729 , SB1730 , SB1731 , SB1732 , SB1733 , SB1734 , SB1735 , SB1736 , SB1737 , SB1738 , SB1739 , SB1740 , SB1741 , SB1742 , SB1743 , SB1744 , SB1745 , SB1746 , SB1747 , SB1748 , SB1749 , SB1750 , SB1751 , SB1752 , SB1753 , SB1754 , SB1755 , SB1756 , SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1759 , SB1760 , SB1761 , SB1762 , SB1763 , SB1764 , SB1765 , SB1766 , SB1767 , SB1768 , SB1769 , SB1770 , SB1771 , SB1772 , SB1773 , SB1774 , SB1775 , SB1776 , SB1777 , SB1778 , SB1779 , SB1781 , SB1782 , SB1783 , SB1784 , SB1785 , SB1786 , SB1787 , SB1788 , SB1789 , SB1790 , SB1791 , SB1792 , SB1793 , SB1794 , SB1795 , SB1796 , SB1797 , SB1798 , SB1799 , SB1800 , SB1801 , SB1802 , SB1803 , SB1804 , SB1805 , SB1806 , SB1807 , SB1808 , SB1809 , SB1810 , SB1811 , SB1812 , SB1813 , SB1814 , SB1815 , SB1816 , SB1817 , SB1818 , SB1819 , SB1820 , SB1821 , SB1822 , SB1823 , SB1824 , SB1825 , SB1826 , SB1827 , SB1828 , SB1829 , SB1830 , SB1831 , SB1832 , SB1833 , SB1834 , SB1835 , SB1836 , SB1837 , SB1838 , SB1839 , SB1840 , SB1841 , SB1842 , SB1843 , SB1844 , SB1845 , SB1846 , SB1847 , SB1848 , SB1849 , SB1850 , SB2188 , SB2230 , SB2312 , SB2345

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• similarly, it's not in this paper, but the CDC's website also has the New Hampshire Immunization Program
• New Hampshire Immunization Program website as part of the official website, and it has immunization quick
• And after reviewing a very small group of 200 Canadian kids, two nurses wrote a... 200 Canadian kids,
• two nurses wrote a recommendation to stop aspiration and stop delivering vaccines slowly and instead

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy met to review its mission, approve prior minutes at a future meeting, and discuss materials related to COVID-19 vaccination guidance. Members examined a pediatric vaccination handout from a private pediatric practice and compared it with New Hampshire DHHS and AAP/AAFP immunization guidance, focusing on how COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are presented for children and adults. Committee members also discussed the scope and accuracy of the committee’s endnotes and supporting documents. The main business was a draft letter urging the governor to direct state agencies to stop recommending COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Members revised the letter paragraph by paragraph, including changing wording about age ranges for children, clarifying references to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and adding discussion of vaccine safety concerns, alleged suppression of safety data, and federal investigations. They also debated whether to reference specific reporting systems such as VAERS and V-safe, and whether to include examples from other states, including Tennessee, Arizona, Minnesota, and Florida, as evidence of broader concern about mRNA vaccines. After the edits were completed, Representative Villio moved to accept the letter as amended, Representative Leroy seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote 4-0. The chair said the revised letter would be finalized and distributed later in the week. The meeting then adjourned at approximately 11:57 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a public health nurse, I'm always going to advocate for thinking about prevention and saving money
• It says, and you put it into several bills and several appropriation acts, that if you pass a program
• Do the same thing for counties: if you pass a program but don't fully fund that program, then give us
• the option to fund that program.
• And if we do fund that program, those costs come out of our no-new-revenue rate.

Bills: SB9

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The treatment programs are the same.
• Care court's a voluntary program that those with antisagnosia, program that those with anisagnosia, are
• But these are expensive programs.
• or a TK program, or where there is a preschool program on campus, we are supporting those programs as
• And these are not just programs. They are not social media programs.

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially serious mental illness and anosognosia, a condition described by witnesses as a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they are ill. The chair framed the issue around families cycling through emergency rooms, jails, conservatorships, and short-term stabilization without lasting treatment, and warned that federal changes under H.R. 1 could reduce Medi-Cal funding and worsen access. Dawn Marie Anderson gave a personal account of her son’s long history of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, repeated jail and state hospital stays, and eventual stability when he received sustained medication and coordinated support. She argued that the system often treats the problem as criminal rather than medical and that voluntary programs and short-term services are not enough for people who lack insight into their illness. Other panelists, including representatives from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, agreed that anosognosia is not denial or noncompliance and said the system needs long-term, coordinated care, including assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, medication support, and stronger handoffs between county and managed care systems. They said CalAIM and other reforms have improved some coordination, but significant gaps remain, especially for people with serious mental illness, for those in jail or locked settings, and for people with private insurance, which witnesses said often offers little meaningful coverage for early psychosis or intensive behavioral health services. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to protect Medi-Cal, shore up county safety-net services, and invest in training and family engagement. The committee then turned to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, with a focus on the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, saying the platforms provide free, culturally responsive, early-intervention support statewide and help connect users to higher levels of care when needed. On the fee schedule, DHCS said more than 500 LEAs, colleges, universities, and school-linked providers are participating, 181 LEAs have submitted claims, and $9.6 million has been reimbursed to date, with 41,556 students represented in claims. The chair and several members criticized the pace of implementation and the amount of money spent relative to reimbursement levels, saying the Legislature had requested data earlier and that the return on investment still appeared low. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, that 70% of denials are correctable, that $400 million in capacity grants has been distributed locally, and that reimbursement is increasing rapidly as more districts come online. Public comment included a rural county behavioral health director who said private insurance denials leave counties with significant uncompensated work, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services.

Transcript Highlights:

• program within the Department of Commerce.
• and also... ...have with the access program itself and also the interoperability with the FX program
• year through a program called the Rural Communities Investment Program.
• And that is a repayment program, a loan repayment program.
• Medicaid nursing home quality incentive program parameters, requires funding to follow an individual

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical school, which is a doctoral program.
• Now that's a program in Texas run by the Medical Board.
• I'm representing the Association of Substance Abuse Programs in support of SB626.
• Is this a state program, or is this basically us telling the counties that they have to do this?
• Facilities and programs are located geographically away from the downtown area.

Bills: SB1117 , SB1373 , SB672 , SB1986 , SB1098 , SB626 , SB1784 , SB2480 , SB2487 , SB437 , SB660

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• The first program we're going to talk about is the Empower Program.
• And Ashley Bradley is the director of the program. The program launched in 2017.
• And our students are taking classes in our ag programs, our Fulbright programs in math and English and
• programs?
• It is an individualized program.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a safe transitions program. a safe transitions program.
• The number varies from day to day. safe transition program? How many safe transition program?
• </c> Department of Human Services programs. Department of Human Services programs.
• </c> under the programs you supervise? under the programs you supervise?
• </c> who rely upon these programs. who rely upon these programs.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been able to increase our program count by 272 programs.
• Just to remind the committee, what we do in K-12 programs is we offer program support.
• program?
• There's no FA program there.
• Most would elect that we don't keep this program. We move to a different type of program.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's other vocational programs that Windham is doing and educational programs.
• There's other vocational programs that Windham is doing and educational programs.
• to move that program into a permanently funded program.
• to move that program into a permanently funded program.
• programming.

Bills: SB1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• The whole program, how much? We'll get that for you. Paid on it, and how much is it each year?
• , and a $1.5 million decrease in legal and litigation fees in the administrative program.
• He also referenced statute 29:26.1 as containing the details of the program.
• He said it amounts to 24-hour care for a nursing home.
• The cost is covered by the federal government in a per diem program.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation for the Department of State. House Fiscal Division said the FY27 recommended budget is $128.6 million and 367 positions, with elections making up the largest share. Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the office is implementing Louisiana’s first closed party primary, continuing voter education efforts, and moving toward procurement of a new voting system that would produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot and support risk-limiting audits. Members asked about polling place confusion, machine replacement costs, election commissioner pay, and the cost of educating voters about the new primary system. Landry said polling places are not changing because of the new primary law, the new system is expected to cost about $100 million total, and a bill this session would raise election commissioner pay by $100 per day. Fiscal staff also estimated the closed primary law will add about $31.5 million in costs over five years, mostly from converting local elections to statewide elections and voter outreach. The committee then reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs budget, which was presented at about $105.2 million with a mix of federal, state, self-generated, and interagency funds. The department said most costs are tied to personnel and veterans’ homes, and that the homes are funded largely by federal dollars plus self-generated revenue. Members focused heavily on delays in processing National Guard disability claims and payments to veterans. Representatives said constituents had waited about a year for claims to be resolved, while the department said it had increased staffing and was processing a backlog of more than 400 claims, but still had about $950,000 in approved claims awaiting funding. The department said the payout program is governed by statute and that additional supplemental funding has been requested. Members also discussed veterans’ home care, including how service-connected disability status affects eligibility and costs, and whether chronic wound care and related complications could increase long-term costs. The department said veterans with higher service-connected ratings receive care with federal support, while others pay fees. Several members urged the department to provide clearer timelines and better communication to claimants, and one member suggested a separate oversight hearing to address the disability claim process and any needed statutory changes. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the largest program is elections, comprising 67.3 percent of the department's funding.
• It's part of our contact assistance program, and it's all lumped into there.
• You've got nursing staff. You've got, well, health care staff across the board.
• The cost is covered by the federal government in a Pardian program.
• That includes... ...government in a Pardian program. That includes medication.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That was the item regarding consultation with nursing.
• I think tobacco and vaping programs, $11,600,000.
• Chairman, I'm just backing up to that tobacco and vaping program.
• Local public health has their programs.
• You might recall in the history of this entire program...

Bills: SB2015

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The committee met to review revised long sheets and section-by-section language for a human services/health budget bill, with much of the discussion focused on how to present block grant funding and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for behavioral health clinics and CCBHCs. Members debated whether to keep FTE counts in the budget at all, ultimately leaning toward removing or zeroing out the FTE references while keeping the dollar authority, and reducing the salaries-and-wages block grant by about $4.75 million. They also discussed public health federal authority, agreeing to remove about $60 million in unused federal spending authority tied to COVID-era funds, and clarified that if federal money later becomes available it could be requested through the Emergency Commission. A major topic was the provider inflation increase. The House version had 2% and 2%, while members debated alternatives and appeared to settle, at least for further work, on 2% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year, with staff asked to recalculate the fiscal impact. The committee also reviewed FMAP changes, noting a revised 2027 FMAP estimate and its effect on general fund and other funds, and discussed whether to adjust public health and other line items accordingly. Several members emphasized that many of these numbers are still tentative and will be refined before final action. The committee also touched on several policy items and capital-related provisions, including behavioral health services, Medicaid expansion, the moratorium on new ICF beds, and a proposed amendment for a medical homes/fourplex-related item that would show a $400,000 legislative investment with repayment from a developer. There was extended discussion of the All True hospital/facility proposal, with some members favoring leaving it in with a smaller initial commitment and others preferring to remove it and revisit later in conference committee. The meeting ended with staff asked to continue updating the bill language and members instructed to review remaining sections before the next meeting; no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Leader, Madam President, if you would please recognize Senator Coleman to introduce the nurse of the
• Senator Coleman, you are recognized to introduce the nurse of the day. Thank you, Madam President.
• Our nurse of the day today comes from Tonkawa, America, Courtney Kapet.
• Her passion for nursing is evident in her daily actions, her leadership, and her unwavering focus on
• Members, if you'd please give a round of applause to our nurse of the day and give her privileges on

Bills: SR34

Keywords: recognition, Harvey Pratt, forensic art, legacy, public service, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we'll go back to the regularly scheduled programming of CS for CS for Senate Bill 232.
• Regularly scheduled programming of CS for CS for Senate Bill 232. Please read the next bill.
• We need to take the next steps to encourage community awareness programs and ensure that our children
• This school is an after-school program, and they have graduated some amazing students.
• And state programs like Medicaid are burdened with rising dental costs.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including students, business groups, and university basketball coaches. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on trust law, school district reporting, debt collection, service of process, lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ownership/health care licensure issues, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving the scene of a crash, background screening for athletic coaches, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. Several bills were temporarily postponed, and multiple House companion bills were substituted where the measures were identical or had only drafting differences. Debate focused on a few measures. Senators questioned the trust code bill’s effect on out-of-state attorneys general; the school reporting bill was described as strengthening arrest and misconduct reporting for instructional personnel; and the service-of-process and lodging bills were presented as technical and consumer-protection fixes. The fentanyl testing bill drew emotional support from the sponsor and families affected by overdose deaths. The surrendered-infant bill prompted opposition over safety, anonymity, and the limited use of baby boxes, while supporters argued it could save lives. The affordable housing bill, updating the Live Local Act, was amended to adjust parking reductions and allow certain properties to use the administrative approval process, with additional limits and exclusions added. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, including the trust code bill, school reporting, debt collection, service of process, lien waivers, public records, foreign-country business interest restrictions, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving-the-scene restitution, athletic coach background screening, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. The day’s most divided vote was on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew extended debate over fluoride policy and other provisions; it passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a Taiwan-related resolution for the journal, made additional announcements, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disable the program disable the program okay<00:08:48.920><c> it</c><00:08:49.360><c> allows</c>
• </c> program says that if ever that program program says that if ever that program is<01:50:30.800><c
• The district is going to have to run that program, plus charter schools, plus this other program.
• the education tax credit program to the education freedom account program.
• </c><05:39:47.120><c> isn't</c> the nurse and if the nurse isn't the nurse and if the nurse isn't available

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're the state virtual program in the state of Idaho.
• Everything from a K-5 literacy program—that's our Launchpad program—to middle school.
• So that drove growth in enrollment in our program.
• So they saw a statewide program such as IDLA as a solution.
• as a separate program to schools at last year, $77 million.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33030 C2, introduced by Representative Doug Pickett, which would add transparency and accountability requirements for virtual education programs, especially Idaho Home Learning Academy. He said the proposal would require school board approval of contracts with education service providers, confirm Idaho residency for students, require state standards for curriculum, disclose services and costs, address conflicts of interest, prohibit direct payments to parents, require certified teachers, and define eligible uses for supplemental learning funds. The committee voted to introduce the RS. Superintendent Jeff Simmons then presented on Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA), describing it as the state virtual program created to provide choice, access, flexibility, quality, and equity through supplemental online courses. He said IDLA is funded mainly by a per-enrollment state appropriation and course fees, serves all students statewide, uses Idaho-certified teachers and principals, and offers a broad catalog including core classes, electives, dual credit, CTE, credit recovery, LaunchPad literacy support, and open educational resources. Anthony Butler, superintendent of Cambridge School District, testified that IDLA has been valuable for a small rural district by expanding course offerings, supporting dual credit, credit recovery, and helping students stay on track to graduate. Members questioned Simmons extensively about IDLA’s original purpose, its growth in budget and enrollment, teacher pay, audits, accountability, use by homeschool and private school students, and whether the program is serving rural students as intended. Simmons said the program remains supplemental, that most courses are asynchronous, that teachers are part-time and paid per enrollment, and that IDLA undergoes annual independent audits and reporting. He also said a proposed $10 million cut would significantly reduce services, likely affecting rural schools and programs like LaunchPad. The committee did not take a vote on IDLA during this portion, but the chair indicated further budget discussions would continue later.

Transcript Highlights:

• discount programs.
• My mother was a nurse, my sister's a nurse, so I'm steeped in health care information and have a great
• To be eligible under program rules, you must have an immediate medical need. Thank you. program.
• for this program.
• for this program.

Keywords: 987, senate, all